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Playing Card Chat ♠ ♥ ♣ ♦ => Playing Card Plethora => Topic started by: Don Boyer on January 20, 2013, 04:40:27 AM
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I got an email from them maybe two days ago.
- Their "Adventures of Joker" contest ends on the 29th - prize is a Rider Back uncut signed by NPH.
- 23 Feb is "Play More Cards Day", a holiday they openly admit to concocting! Members are considered "Bicycle Brand ambassadors" and as such will receive in the mail a Play More Cards kit with playing cards, a bottle opener, score cards and other unspecified goodies.
- The February site update is coming - "Mixing with Molly" will have the club's official drink, there's an interview with a casino cheating expert and there will be another contest.
- Club 808 posters and the Bicycle Griffin deck are coming soon.
Now membership's looking like I'm getting my money's worth! Not too late to join...
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The membership is definitely starting to look better. I just became a member myself :)
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I'm still not convinced to become a member
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I'm still not convinced to become a member
So, for $19, I've received one free deck, another is on the way along with a (branded) bottle opener and score pads and such, I get access to exclusive deck offers...and I'm only a month into this.
It's looking like we members may actually get more than our money's worth in the end.
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I'm still not convinced to become a member
It's looking like we members may actually get more than our money's worth in the end.
That's exactly how I see it. Which is why I am proud to be a member now.
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If you sign up after Feb. 23, will you still be getting that playing card set?
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If you sign up after Feb. 23, will you still be getting that playing card set?
Seeing as how the set is being distributed specifically for an event scheduled for 23 Feb, what do you think the answer would be to your question? Because if you say yes, perhaps you'd be interested in buying some Super Bowl tickets from me. They're for last year's game but the view is great! :))
Kidding aside, I can't say with certainty but it seems unlikely. They're probably shipping them with the intent of having them arrive perhaps a week or more in advance to insure members have them in time.
Just go ahead and join already! It's not like it costs a lot...
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With that being said, I'm proud to say that I've just become a member. :))
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Its a great deal for US based collectors...
For internationals its no that amazing... Having to pay for each shipping its kind of a bad thing, i would prefer to be charged just one time with all the "shippings" and stuff also I'm guessing that maybe if they charge you just once the could give some "discounts" for internationals...
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Its a great deal for US based collectors...
For internationals its no that amazing... Having to pay for each shipping its kind of a bad thing, i would prefer to be charged just one time with all the "shippings" and stuff also I'm guessing that maybe if they charge you just once the could give some "discounts" for internationals...
There's not much a company can do when it comes to international shipping. Best you could do is use a consolidation and reshipment service - they collect whatever it is you're buying at their US address, and when enough has accumulated, you can ship it all at once for lower than what most companies would charge you separately.
It's not very practical for them to charge you just once for shipping, because I'm pretty sure they don't have the entire program's first year planned out in advance - it gives them no wiggle room for a changing market and changes within the company. Furthermore, they also sell stuff - which you'd have to get shipped separately...
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it's true...to be a 'part of a club' for $20 w/ some nice freebies and perks is a pretty good deal these days.
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I'm still not convinced to become a member
So, for $19, I've received one free deck, another is on the way along with a (branded) bottle opener and score pads and such, I get access to exclusive deck offers...and I'm only a month into this.
It's looking like we members may actually get more than our money's worth in the end.
I'm stoked on this. I joined a couple of weeks ago. I got the Club 808 deck. What other exclusives do you see available on the site?
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MJ
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I'm thinking of starting to join up soon. . . Any other benefits?
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I'm stoked on this. I joined a couple of weeks ago. I got the Club 808 deck. What other exclusives do you see available on the site?
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MJ
I'm thinking of starting to join up soon. . . Any other benefits?
You guys really, REALLY don't like researching, do you?
Your answers are almost certainly to be found earlier in this topic - go look! Then, if you still can't find it, come and ask.
As for you, Creature... Have you logged into the Club 808 website yet? It has all the info we do and then some.
http://www.bicyclecards.com/808/
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So here is the Griffin Deck in hand. The foil on the tuck and embossing are spectacular. The Griffin itself is reflected on the tuck and the AoS. The shadowing around the griffin gives it an almost 3D feel. I also really enjoy the back of this deck. Perfect shade of green. All else is standard.
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So here is the Griffin Deck in hand. The foil on the tuck and embossing are spectacular. The Griffin itself is reflected on the tuck and the AoS. The shadowing around the griffin gives it an almost 3D feel. I also really enjoy the back of this deck. Perfect shade of green. All else is standard.
Did you attach a pic.. I don't see it
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So here is the Griffin Deck in hand. The foil on the tuck and embossing are spectacular. The Griffin itself is reflected on the tuck and the AoS. The shadowing around the griffin gives it an almost 3D feel. I also really enjoy the back of this deck. Perfect shade of green. All else is standard.
It would be great if USPCC handles the 808 Club similar to the way Pixar does with their animated shorts - testing innovative ideas and advancing their in-house technology. It would be a great way to get an R&D department running and could lead to advancements that could carry over to the larger magic companies as well as the small independent designers.
I looking forward to when the Griffin Deck arrives and to see what they come up with for the rest of the year.
Thanks, Randy
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Here's a pic courtesy of Mike at BMPokerWorld
( click on pic for larger view )
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All right, for those of you still on the fence about joining, I'll give you the breakdown so far.
- WHEN YOU JOIN:
- Free Bicycle Club 808 deck.
- Monthly online "newsletter"
- JANUARY
- Newsletter articles:
- Interviews with Jonathan Bayme of T11 and Neil Patrick Harris, actor and president of the Board at the Academy of Magical Arts (the Magic Castle)
- Monthly contest: "The Adventures of Joker" - five winners get Rider Back uncuts signed by NPH.
- "Mixing with Molly" - mixology recipes from Molly Wellman. This month, the Classic Old Fashioned.
- Top Five article: best fictional card players.
- VIP Shop:
- Club 808 leather-wrapped steel flask, $24.95, limit 2.
- Coming soon: Bicycle Griffin deck and several prints
- Email notice re "Play More Cards Day" (see first post for more info)
- FEBRUARY
- Newsletter articles
- Top Five article: people to leave at home on poker night
- "Mixing With Molly" - the Club 808 Cocktail
- (Brief) Interview with Sal Piacente, casino protection expert.
- Monthly contest: "Beat the Cheats" - winner gets autographed copy of Sal's "Poker Cheats Exposed" DVD
- VIP Shop:
- Bicycle Griffin deck, $5.99, limit 6.
- Five vintage-look posters on sale, $10.00, limit 6 each:
- Bicycle Joker
- Bicycle "Best Bower" - first Joker design
- Bicycle Ace of Spades - first AoS design
- "Cupid Rider" Spade
- Rider Back
I thought this month's newsletter was disappointing - the Piacente interview was super-short and the contest prize isn't really what I'd call a hot-ticket item. But it's nice getting the Griffin decks at the original retail price! I guess with almost any of these "membership" promotions, some months will be better than others.
BMPW's price of $14.99 on the Griffins is not bad if you're getting only one or two decks and using the discount code. But for a little more than the cost of four discounted decks from that shop, you could buy a membership and six decks from Club 808 - and get the Club 808 deck and the giveaway deck coming in roughly two weeks, plus get future Club 808 decks at MSRP.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking BMPW at all - I recently placed a decent-sized order there, I'm a happy customer of the shop and I tend to get from him much of the time when I'm not ordering straight from the designer. I just did the math to see how it would work out, and that's how it worked out. Not everyone is interested in getting the Club 808 membership, so for them, it's really not bad if they're just buying one or two.
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Just received an e-mail from Bicycle stating that uncut Griffin sheets will be available in member the store in March.
Correction...available "soon", not necessarily March.
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I got my Cards Day Box in this week and was greatly suprized that I got a full brick of Riders, along with 10 cups, to bottle openers and other items. :D
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Just received an e-mail from Bicycle stating that uncut Griffin sheets will be available in member the store in March.
Correction...available "soon", not necessarily March.
Here's the full text of the email.
Greetings, Club 808 members,
It's time for our mid-month update! First things first: You have until February 28 to submit an entry to our contest "Beat the Cheats." We'll choose five winners, who will each receive a copy of Sal Piacente's DVD Poker Cheats Exposed—the best way to improve your poker game and spot cheats.
What else is going on this month?
- Play More Cards Day, the official Bicycle® Brand holiday, is this Saturday, February 23! Bicycle® fans all around the world are gathering in their homes or at their favorite bars to host afternoons or evenings of card-playing. If you're in the Cincinnati, Ohio region, make sure you join us at Japp's Since 1879 to join in the official celebration.
- March's Club 808 content is almost here! Our main feature: an interview with a handful of famous musicians-turned-tattoo artists (trust us, you've heard of at least one of them) you won't want to miss.
- New Club 808-exclusive merchandise will be available soon in the shop. Particularly keep an eye out for the uncut sheets of the Griffin Deck.
Keep checking back with Club 808 to keep up with all the latest in the Bicycle® Brand's one and only members' club.
Cheers,
The Club 808 Team
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I got my Cards Day Box in this week and was greatly suprized that I got a full brick of Riders, along with 10 cups, to bottle openers and other items. :D
Wow, I hope International also gets something this good!
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So as far as the deck goes, did anyone else notice the subtle one way back? I can not use it though since I slip on ice while springing the deck, the snow did not do the cards good. :(
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what are you talking about John?
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the 808 deck has a one way back. if you look at the B in the word club on one side its white in the middle spacing, while on the bottom one its more black
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the 808 deck has a one way back. if you look at the B in the word club on one side its white in the middle spacing, while on the bottom one its more black
This image is of the box, not the card back. Many if not most subtle one-way decks don't show the one-way mark on the box image of the card back. Thus, I'm not seeing what you're referring to. Did any of the cards survive the snow, so that you could maybe take a photo or a scan and point out what you're referring to?
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it on the box. I will take a pic an circle it for you guys.
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I got my Play More Cards kit today, and I had signed up for the membership on February 13th. Regardless, I like the kit quite a bit, and the membership has already paid for itself only 2 weeks into the year. Definitely a good purchase. Maybe I can finally get a group together for a night of poker, now.
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it on the box. I will take a pic an circle it for you guys.
I see it now - inside the curve of the bottom half of the "B". Good eye!
I got my Play More Cards kit today, and I had signed up for the membership on February 13th. Regardless, I like the kit quite a bit, and the membership has already paid for itself only 2 weeks into the year. Definitely a good purchase. Maybe I can finally get a group together for a night of poker, now.
I received word from Club 808 that mine was being shipped from an area of the country that was hard hit with snow recently, so my kit has been delayed. Said I should contact them if it doesn't show up in two weeks and they'll send a replacement. Awfully nice of them, I think.
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You mean you don't riffle test the decks you get?
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You mean you don't riffle test the decks you get?
Not always, no. I'll sometimes visually examine the backs with one card inverted, searching for differences - and often I find them. But remember, you're talking about a guy with over 500 different deck designs - that's over 500 open boxes of cards, man! If I spent too much time going over each with a fine tooth comb and a magnifying lens, I'd have no time for the simple things, like my wife, TV, work, bathing, dining, etc. :))
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Just a little update to the international members of club 808. Just received an email reply saying it will be at least 1-2 weeks before the packs r sent out.
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Just a little update to the international members of club 808. Just received an email reply saying it will be at least 1-2 weeks before the packs r sent out.
Quoting from an email Patricia Kevill of USPC Customer Relations sent to me 26 Feb.:
The International and Canadian Kits will be sent out next week.
It'll probably take a while to fill them all, but they may come quicker than you thought.
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Uncut Griffin sheets, available now. $9.98 each, plus shipping.
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Here's the entire email for the curious:
Our March articles, interview, contest, merchandise, and more are live on Club 808. In this month's selection of exclusive content, you'll find:
An all-new monthly feature called "What's On Deck" that lets Club 808 members in on top secret Bicycle® Brand News
An interview with the founding members of Club Tattoo, including Chester Bennington (lead singer of Linkin Park), and Sean and Thora Dowdell
The newest cocktail recipe from master mixologist Molly Wellman
A new contest with a prize signed by Club Tattoo founders Chester Bennington, Sean Dowdell, and Thora Dowdell—as well as the members of Linkin Park
New articles to read and share
Brand-new merchandise in the Club 808 shop (including uncut sheets of the Griffin Deck)
The only new merchandise would be the uncut sheets, which are limited to 4 per and absurdly cheap compared to other uncuts I've seen.
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got my play more cards kit two days ago. I signed up late for the club (the 15th I believe), so I'm not sure if everyone already got theirs but just wanted to give a heads up it should be on its way if you haven't. :)
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Uncut Griffin sheets, available now. $9.98 each, plus shipping.
Limit four per member! But still, that's REALLY cheap for an uncut. I think the Rider Back uncuts actually cost more than that.
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You really can't go wrong with the Griffin uncut...$10 for any custom sheet these days is a fantastic deal.
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Next paycheck I know what I am getting. also do any of you guys do the contest? I entered one just for the heck of it being stupid and some how I won.
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got my play more cards kit two days ago. I signed up late for the club (the 15th I believe), so I'm not sure if everyone already got theirs but just wanted to give a heads up it should be on its way if you haven't. :)
Yes! Same here... I signed up for Club 808 on February 13th. I'm not sure if I received the kit because I became a Club 808 member or because I also signed up to become a Play More Cards Ambassador. The letter that comes with the kit references "Play More Cards Ambassador". Although I have not bought anything from the Club 808 Shop, the Play More Cards Kit and whatever else the USPCC has in store for members was well worth the $18.85. My only criticism is that it would have been nice to get one of USPCC letters hand signed by the president of the company (not printed). I know there must be hundreds if not thousands of those letters going out but It would make a nice keepsake for a true collector.
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As I'm reading the posts, I'm proudly sipping on some aqua from my red cup. :))
Yes! Same here... I signed up for Club 808 on February 13th. I'm not sure if I received the kit because I became a Club 808 member or because I also signed up to become a Play More Cards Ambassador. The letter that comes with the kit references "Play More Cards Ambassador". Although I have not bought anything from the Club 808 Shop, the Play More Cards Kit and whatever else the USPCC has in store for members was well worth the $18.85. My only criticism is that it would have been nice to get one of USPCC letters hand signed by the president of the company (not printed). I know there must be hundreds if not thousands of those letters going out but It would make a nice keepsake for a true collector.
Think about what you're saying....HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of letters to sign. You thought Daniel Madison had it rough when signing all those letter to BC members, look at him/her. Talk about arthritis in the making. (Sorry if I used the incorrect allusion).
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got my play more cards kit two days ago. I signed up late for the club (the 15th I believe), so I'm not sure if everyone already got theirs but just wanted to give a heads up it should be on its way if you haven't. :)
Yes! Same here... I signed up for Club 808 on February 13th. I'm not sure if I received the kit because I became a Club 808 member or because I also signed up to become a Play More Cards Ambassador. The letter that comes with the kit references "Play More Cards Ambassador". Although I have not bought anything from the Club 808 Shop, the Play More Cards Kit and whatever else the USPCC has in store for members was well worth the $18.85. My only criticism is that it would have been nice to get one of USPCC letters hand signed by the president of the company (not printed). I know there must be hundreds if not thousands of those letters going out but It would make a nice keepsake for a true collector.
In many such cases where a mass mailing like this is going out, if the signature is in pen, there's a good chance that the named person isn't the one doing the signing. Sign your name a few thousand times or more and you'll know why. E's Black Club mailing of the Rounders deck was far smaller, because E's customer base is smaller and only a fraction of those joined the Black Club - in that case, I'd say the signature is legit. But I seriously couldn't imagine the president of a company spending several days writing all those autographs - if only 0.01% of USPC's customer base got a kit, that's still a HUGE amount of signatures.
I'm still floored and astounded that they held such a huge giveaway at all - to members and non-members alike. Props to their Customer Relations. (Though it does make you wonder just how much it costs them to produce a deck! :)) )
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Next paycheck I know what I am getting. also do any of you guys do the contest? I entered one just for the heck of it being stupid and some how I won.
What'd you win? Is it card related?? I think there are a bunch of people that might enter them just for fun. I mean I know that whenever I enter a contest I do it just fr kicks. I want to win but I have no expectation of winning.
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Next paycheck I know what I am getting. also do any of you guys do the contest? I entered one just for the heck of it being stupid and some how I won.
What'd you win? Is it card related?? I think there are a bunch of people that might enter them just for fun. I mean I know that whenever I enter a contest I do it just fr kicks. I want to win but I have no expectation of winning.
It can only have been one of two things. If he won the January contest, he got an uncut sheet of red Rider Backs signed by Neil Patrick Harris. If he won the February contest, he got an autographed DVD by Sal Piacente on gambling protection methods.
EDIT: I just checked. The February contest had a winner named "John B." The January contest didn't have a "John B." as a winner.
I wanted to finally enter a contest, only to discover that this month's contest requires you to take a photo of a playing-cards related tattoo. I can't get tattoos... Maybe I'll see about getting a painted one! That should still count! (There's a flaw in that plan - it would probably cost more to get the fake tat than I'd be getting from the prize. This month's prize is an uncut of the Club Tattoo deck signed by the founders of Club Tattoo and the members of Linkin Park - the lead singer is a partner in the company.)
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I got the dvd.
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Is that info only available to club members? I know I should probably take better advantage of Google :)) but I actually really like the January prize. I don't really know what Mr. Harris has to do with cards but I am a fan so that would've been cool.
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Is that info only available to club members? I know I should probably take better advantage of Google :)) but I actually really like the January prize. I don't really know what Mr. Harris has to do with cards but I am a fan so that would've been cool.
You're kidding, right? You sure you're an NPH fan?
He recently produced a play in Los Angeles that focused on magician's skills, and, oh yeah, he's the PRESIDENT of the Board of the Academy of Magical Arts, the group that operates the MAGIC CASTLE in LA! He's got a long-running rep as a magician and has performed at the Castle.
The contest info is available only to club members because only club members can enter the contests. If you haven't joined yet, what the @!#% are you waiting for! For less than nineteen bucks a year, it's not just a bargain, it's a steal!
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Ah well I know he's been associated with magic and I guess I didn't do enough digging as I thought it was more of a hobby. I'm more a fan of his acting endeavors.
And yes, I'm still regretting the fact that I haven't bought the membership yet... I think my wallet is itching to be used right now.... Ugh well missed out on a bunch of things but I know for a fact that there will be much much more.
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Next paycheck I know what I am getting. also do any of you guys do the contest? I entered one just for the heck of it being stupid and some how I won.
What'd you win? Is it card related?? I think there are a bunch of people that might enter them just for fun. I mean I know that whenever I enter a contest I do it just fr kicks. I want to win but I have no expectation of winning.
It can only have been one of two things. If he won the January contest, he got an uncut sheet of red Rider Backs signed by Neil Patrick Harris. If he won the February contest, he got an autographed DVD by Sal Piacente on gambling protection methods.
EDIT: I just checked. The February contest had a winner named "John B." The January contest didn't have a "John B." as a winner.
I wanted to finally enter a contest, only to discover that this month's contest requires you to take a photo of a playing-cards related tattoo. I can't get tattoos... Maybe I'll see about getting a painted one! That should still count! (There's a flaw in that plan - it would probably cost more to get the fake tat than I'd be getting from the prize. This month's prize is an uncut of the Club Tattoo deck signed by the founders of Club Tattoo and the members of Linkin Park - the lead singer is a partner in the company.)
I have a friend who does henna, so I might do that.
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Next paycheck I know what I am getting. also do any of you guys do the contest? I entered one just for the heck of it being stupid and some how I won.
What'd you win? Is it card related?? I think there are a bunch of people that might enter them just for fun. I mean I know that whenever I enter a contest I do it just fr kicks. I want to win but I have no expectation of winning.
It can only have been one of two things. If he won the January contest, he got an uncut sheet of red Rider Backs signed by Neil Patrick Harris. If he won the February contest, he got an autographed DVD by Sal Piacente on gambling protection methods.
EDIT: I just checked. The February contest had a winner named "John B." The January contest didn't have a "John B." as a winner.
I wanted to finally enter a contest, only to discover that this month's contest requires you to take a photo of a playing-cards related tattoo. I can't get tattoos... Maybe I'll see about getting a painted one! That should still count! (There's a flaw in that plan - it would probably cost more to get the fake tat than I'd be getting from the prize. This month's prize is an uncut of the Club Tattoo deck signed by the founders of Club Tattoo and the members of Linkin Park - the lead singer is a partner in the company.)
I have a friend who does henna, so I might do that.
Will it look as good in henna? Some tattooists can paint a tat on you without inking it permanently, in order to give you a chance to try it on for size and see if it suits you. Committing to ink isn't something you should take lightly. :)) But their color paintwork can be pretty realistic-looking - the major difference being that the painted tat will wash off in a week or two.
What tat did you have in mind? Since I'm unlikely to use my idea, I'll pass it on free of charge: on an inner forearm, the corner of a queen of hearts is "stabbed" into the skin, creating a decent nick as if it was a knife point. The queen herself has "broken" heart pips, and she's shown with a more modern face, shedding tears. (Pretty cool, hunh? :)) )
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interesting. What I will be doing if I have the time is doing the tattoo design I was planning on getting. The 4 suits on more fore arm connected by pieces of chain.
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entered my pic, so fingers crossed. I have the Monarchs flap skull and swords art tatted on my wrist.
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entered my pic, so fingers crossed. I have the Monarchs flap skull and swords art tatted on my wrist.
If it doesn't depict a card or at least a suit, it may not be eligible.
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That would suck. Where did you read that?
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The tattoo references playing cards in some way, whether with a full card, a heart, a spade, a king, poker chips, a rider back, etc.
This is what I got from the contest page.
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I actually have the tally Ho spade and an artist rendition of the three other suites in the same style tattooed on my inner bicep. I threw a photo in the contest for kicks. :)
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That would suck. Where did you read that?
The tattoo references playing cards in some way, whether with a full card, a heart, a spade, a king, poker chips, a rider back, etc.
This is what I got from the contest page.
Well, perhaps it's not too late to add a spade or something to more closely tie it to cards, even if it's just painted on as a temp tat or henna tat.
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My Griffin uncut sheets are scheduled to be delivered tomorrow. I'm looking forward to seeing them. While I have thousands of decks, this will be my first uncut sheet purchase. I don't have the wall space to display them as I would want to. Cheap, cool, and fairly limited, so it was worth a few bucks just to see.
I hope that I don't get addicted to sheets to the level that I am with decks...